A determined young eco-warrior from Lee has demanded answers from the council after she was reduced to tears when her "favourite tree" was cut down outside her house.

Eight-year-old Sophie Cooper came home from school two weeks ago to find contractors hacking down a large tree on Senlac Road.

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Sophie was left in tears as she saw the tree being cut down (Andrea Cooper)

Horrified that the tree was being felled, Sophie shouted out the window at the workmen to stop.

Speaking to News Shopper, she said: “It’s bad to cut down trees. You can only cut them down if they’re poorly.”

After becoming so upset about the tree that she started to cry, Sophie penned a letter to Lewisham Council asking them to explain their decision.

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Sophie's letter to Lewisham Council (Andrea Cooper)

The Year 4 student, who wants to be an environmentalist when she is older, wrote: “Why did you cut it down? What did it do to you?

“It makes me feel very sad and mad. What about the birds that lived there?

“Please, please stop. If you don’t, then I will write more letters.”

Sophie’s passion for the environment has been fuelled by her science lessons at St Winifred’s Catholic Primary School, which she says have also inspired her school friends.

Her mother, Andrea, told News Shopper: “She started caring about the environment really young. We’d be driving along and she’d see a tree being cut down and she’d cry and get really upset.

“It was like she really cared for the tree, almost as if it was a person.

“She’s always wanted to help animals, as well as people. She has a really caring, massive heart.”

And these are not the only issues Sophie feels passionate about. She recently had a stern chat with her dad, Rob, about buying products that contain palm oil.

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Sophie posted the letter to the council as she searched for answers (Andrea Cooper)

“They’re cutting down trees in the rainforest for palm oil and soon the orangutans won’t have a home,” Sophie explained.

She has also drafted a letter to Sainsbury’s to ask bosses about the use of the oil in its products.

When contacted by News Shopper, Councillor Sophie McGeevor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, praised Sophie’s concern for the environment.

She added: “We value our trees in Lewisham – they are crucial green lungs, particularly in urban areas.

“We need to make sure the borough's street trees are in good health, thriving and safe and we will only ever remove trees in specific circumstances and where there is no alternative option.

“In this particular case the tree was a potential hazard. We tried hard to resolve the risk but unfortunately, we had no option other than to remove it.

“We will always try to replace any trees we remove. We also work closely with community groups regarding street tree planting and in the recent season planted over 200 trees.”